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Ministers told reduced traffic-police numbers and increasing alcohol use during the pandemic mean tougher rules are needed
The drink-drive limit in England and Wales should be lowered due to a plateauing in accident statistics, according to a government-funded report.
Since 2010 an average of 240 people a year have been killed in collisions involving at least one drink-driver, and a lack of improvement in this area is one reason the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS) is advising the Department for Transport that a lower drink-drive limit should be implemented.
The drink-drive limit in England and Wales is currently 80 milligrammes (mg) of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, or to 35 micrograms (mcg) per 100 millilitres of breath. Yet while public attitudes to drink-driving have shifted significantly since the 1960s, and drink-drive deaths fell steadily until 2010, the last decade has seen a stagnation of statistics.
To counteract this, PACTS is recommending that lowering the limit would be “the single most important measure” ministers could take, with Scotland’s tougher 22 mcg of alcohol in 100 ml of breath/50 mg in 100ml of blood being cited as desirable.
As well as a tougher drink-drive limit PACTS, which reports to the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Transport Safety, is recommending police are granted more powers to allow them to pull drivers over for random breath tests. At present, police must have grounds to suspect a driver has been drinking before they can issue a test.
The PACTS report also says the coronavirus pandemic has seen an increasing number of people develop alcohol and mental health problems, with research indicating the two problems often go hand-in-hand. To help combat this, PACTS is recommending specialist rehabilitation courses are developed for people with these issues.
The report also cites a 63 per cent decrease in police enforcement since 2009, which may lead people to believe they are less likely to get caught if they get behind the wheel when over the limit. The organisation also wants tougher penalties for people who combine drink with drugs when driving, and highlights issues relating to repeat offenders, with 32,025 (seven per cent) of those committing a drink-drive offence over the last decade already having a previous conviction.
David Davies, executive director of PACTS, said: “Drink driving is often cited as a road safety success story, yet it remains a major killer and progress has ground to a halt since 2010. Not only is better enforcement important but also the problems of mental health and alcohol dependency need to be recognised.”
He added: “A lower limit is not a magic bullet but government policies to reduce drink driving will lack credibility as long as they avoid this change.”
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Good it should be made illegal to drink drive full stop….no limits. Personally I don’t see the “need” or reason for it at all, I have never drove after having a single drink nor will I during my lifetime. Life is so fragile and not promised, it’s worth far far more than that one drink ?
Good it should be made illegal to drink drive full stop….no limits. Personally I don’t see the “need” or reason for it at all, I have never drove after having a single drink nor will I during my lifetime. Life is so fragile and not promised, it’s worth far far more than that one drink ?
You need a limit, a zero limit would cause many problems, not only do some medicines contain alcohol, but your own body naturally produces it.
The fact that we are down to an average of 240 related deaths a year is great, rather than lowering limits, they ought to increase the penalties, especially for repeat offenders, punish the guilty, not those that behave!
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Maybe smart breathalysers that won’t let the car start if over the limit is a good idea?
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The eu are putting that in place vinnie, i think we decided that we will not, but will make those who guilty of dd when they allowed to drive again they must have one fitted. which i think is right.
Also as I don’t drink at all, as my meds say do not drink alcohol, so I don’t except for a small new year’s toast.
So imo then everytime one needs to drive you need to blow to make it go…Why not make you also give a sample to see if you on illegal drugs as well as meds or even if you used some mouth wash.
If you stop for 15 mins you need to blow again and again for no reason at all… and once again it makes everyone suffer for some bad apples.like those that use their mobile phones when driving.. just no need.
I used to also drive for a living and I’d lose my job if i did drink and drive so if i was working the next day it would be only non alcoholic drinks for me, Once i even went to the pub for a friends party before starting a night shift and when i got to work they said you been drinking, i was like nope i ain’t, but you smell of it? I said test me then and they did negative, So there no excuse imo for doing it.. but there does need to be some sort of tollerance and in france they have it where you need to have a test in the car and if you do you can test yourself in the morning and they can fine you for not having one..
I’m zero tolerance after nearly being killed by a drunk driver & my long term disabilities now etc…
there’s no excuse to drink and drive – period.
the current system and sentencing is woefully inadequate, antiquated & offensive to those left with injuries / lifetime disability nevermind the impact on family & friends of those killed by drunk drivers
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